One of the top priorities at the present stage of development of pig breeding remains the development of a set of measures aimed at increasing the resistance animals to various diseases, especially – to colibacteriosis .One of the recent and effective approaches to prevent colibacillosis is using markers of selection; it involves pig genotyping by genome locuses. Chosen locuses are associated with animal sensitivity to the disease and selection of the results of genotyping of animals with increased resistance. Due to researches, one of such locuses is alpha-fukozyltrasferаza 1 gene (FUT1). Gene FUT1 is located in chromosome 6. As a result of its sequencing in the swine breeds of Large White and Swedish Landrace, single-nucleotide polymorphism (g.307 G > A SNP) has been detected. AA genotype determines the resistance of animals to colibacteriosis, while AG and GG genotypes are susceptible to this disease. According to the results of previous studies, the positive effect of allele A was determined not only on the resistance of pigs to colibacteriosis, but also on indicators of fattening and meat productivity and on reproductive performance. In Ukraine, the studies of polymorphism FUT1 g.307 G > A SNP were held fragmentedly and only on certain populations of Ukrainian Meat and Large White breed but without establishing its association with the indicators of productivity of pigs. The aim of our work was to study the genetic structure of Ukrainian Large White breeds, type 1 and the establishment of association. g. 307 G > A SNP FUT1 gene with pigs indicators of productivity. For research the 96 samples of hair were used. DNA isolation from samples with biomaterial were carried out using ion exchange resin Chelex-100. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP by method of Jorgensen et al. (2006). Using DNA analysis of this breeds locus FUT1 was determined by genetic structure. Allele frequency of allele G (0,573) and allele A (0,427) was established The distribution of genotype frequencies was not statistically significantly different from the theoretically expected, calculated by the Hardy-Weinberg criterion. Thus, according to the locus of FUT1 g.307 G > A, the breeds investigated are in a state close to the genetic equilibrium. The negative value of the fixation index by the locus FUT1 g.307 G > A indicates an excess of heterozygotes in the population, and hence the lack of targeted selection for this marker. The valuation was performed by calculating the PIC (polymorphic information content) – information content of polymorphism marker. In the analyzed pig herd for this marker, the PIC has an average value (0,367), which indicates the high level of polymorphism of the given locus and is favorable for the possibility of conducting a search for links between individual genotypes and indicators of productivity. To establish the association g.307 G > A SNP FUT1 gene with indicators of animal productivity, a one-way analysis of variance of the experimental data was used. Based on the results of a one-way analysis of variance, a significant effect of the genotypes of the FUT1gene (g.1849 G > C) on the indicator of the average daily weight gain (р ≤ 0,001), the thickness of the bacon at the level of the VI-VII vertebrae (p ≤ 0.01), reaching live weight of 100 kg (р ≤ 0,001) and breeding index of fattening qualities (р ≤ 0,01) was found. The parameter of the influence of the genetic factor on the test feature was 28,54%, 10,4%, 33,4% and 8,8% respectively. According to the investigated indicators of productivity, animals with genotype AA, which determines resistance to colibacteriosis, dominated the animals with genotypes GG and AG. Based on the results of our research and pre-published data, the multiple effect of the g.307 G > A SNP FUT1 gene is observed, which is associated with the indicators of productivity, which again confirms the polygenicity of the quantitative trait loci of farm animals. Taking into account a high level of polymorphism of the investigated gene and reliable associations of genotypes with indicators of productivity found, it can be recommended to carry out breeding of pigs using genetic information of the g.307 G > A SNP gene FUT1.

Assessment of swine leukocyte antigen polymorphism (SLA–3) in different breeds pigs of Ukraine was carried out using the method of allele-specific PCR. Features of the allelic fund structure in pig breeds such as Large white, Mirgorod, Ukrainian steppe white, Ukrainian steppe speckled and Vietnamese potbellied pig were studied on four polymorphic sites: SLA–3–0602, SLA–3–0401, SLA–30101 and SLA–3–03cs01. In the study population of Mirgorod pigs, the absence of SLA–3–03cs01 and SLA–3–0602 alleles was detected. The experimental animals were polymorphic by the SLA–3–0101 and SLA–3–0401 marker systems with the above alleles frequency of 18.2 and 81.8%, respectively. By the polymorphic site SLA–3–0401 pigs of Large white, Ukrainian steppe white and Vietnamese potbellied breeds were monomorphic, whereas the representatives of the aboriginal Ukrainian steppe speckled breed the frequency of this allele did not exceed 40%. The genetic structure of Vietnamese potbellied pigs significantly differed from the characteristics obtained for the local Ukrainian breeds by four SLA sites. The most statistically significant differences are recorded for allele frequencies SLA–3–0602 and SLA–3–0101. The SLA–3–0602 allele was absent in Vietnamese potbellied breed with its 100% presence in Large white pigs. In contrast, the SLA–3–0101 allele was found in all Vietnamese pigs and was absent in a sample of the Large white pigs (p < 0.05). The distribution pattern of alleles in all of the samples selected for the study of polymorphisms in the pig locus of leukocyte antigen (SLA–3) showed a high genetic homogeneity of the Large white animals sample. The SLA–3–0101 and SLA–3–03cs01 alleles carriers were not detected, and by SLA–3–0602 and SLA–3–0401, 100% of the specimens had the respective alleles in their genotype. High values of the genetic homogeneity in these animals are confirmed by calculation of the total heterozygosity index, which was 0.136. The maximum genetic and, accordingly, genealogical relationship (according to the summary zootechnical account) were recorded in Vietnamese potbellied pigs for which the index of intragroup similarity was 0.960, and the calculated heterozygosity was the least among the breeds under study – 0.024. It is expedient to consider the results of the population-genetic characteristics analysis of the autochthonous pig breeds – the Ukrainian steppe speckled and Mirgorod when further planning selection and breeding work with them. The minimum value of intragroup similarity was found in the group of the Ukrainian steppe speckled swine – 0.156, as compared to the values of this index in pigs of other breeds under study (p < 0.05), and the theoretically calculated heterozygosity for these animals sample was 0.823. The integral assessment of breeds genetic differentiation by SLA–3 polymorphisms was obtained by performing a cluster analysis based on the calculated values of genetic distances between the breeds. The most genetically distant ones were the Mirgorod and Ukrainian steppe speckled breeds, and the value of the genetic distance between them was 0.776. In general, Ukrainian steppe speckled was characterized by the most unique distribution of SLA–3 alleles compared to other breeds under study, which has influenced the configuration of the obtained dendrogram by the UPGMA method. By means of molecular genetic, population and cluster analysis, the singularity and specificity of the Ukrainian steppe white and speckled pigs are shown. The genetic characteristics of the Mirgorod breed obtained by us can be useful in the process of recreating these animals using biotechnological methods, since the only gene pool herd of these pigs was eliminated due to the African plague infection. The generative material from the Mirgorod breed pigs has only been preserved in the Bank of Genetic Resources of the M.V.Zubets Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, NAAS. Determining genetic characteristics of the SLA allelic fund breed specificity of the local pig breeds reveals the prospects for using this information as an additional tool for their genetic certification, in special programs for conservation and restoration of their gene pool.

Розроблена діагностична система скринінгу ендогенного ретровірусу свиней підтипу С (PERV-C) за допомогою мультиплексної ПЛР-SSP для виявлення особин із зниженим ризиком біологічної небезпеки при їх застосуванні для цілей ксенотрансплантації.На зразках ДНК, отриманих від тварин свиней порід в’єтнамський мейшан та велика біла, визначена чутливість та специфічність тест-системи PERV-C – α-Actin. Встановлено, що гранично допустимою концентрацію геномної ДНК для виявлення фрагменту ретровірусу свиней в ПЛР з наступним розділенням продуктів ампліфікації шляхом горизонтального електрофорезу в агарозному гелі є 15,2 пг/мкл, а мінімальна кількість ПЛР-продукту для можливості його візуалізації склала 5 × 103 копій.

Nowadays one of the most common and critical problem in pig breeding is colibacteriosis. This infectious disease has acute course and it is caused by enteropathogenic strains of bacteria Escherichia coli. One of the recent and effective approaches to prevent colibacteriosis is using markers of selection; it involves pig genotyping by genome loci. The chosen loci are associated with animal sensitivity to the disease and selection of animals with increased resistance by the results of genotyping. According to several researches, one of such loci is Mucin 4 (MUC4) gene. MUC4 gene is located in the13-th chromosome (SSC13q41). Mucins (MUC) are macromolecular glycoproteins synthesized by goblet enterocytes and play main role in protecting the intestinal epithelium from pathogens, including adhesive strains of Escherichia coli. As a result of spot replacement g.1849 G>С in intron 7, structure of mucin protein encoded by gene is changing which leads to changes in the sensitivity of the intestinal mucosa to pathogenic Escherichia coli. G allele and respectively GG genotype determine the resistance of animals to colibacteriosis, while СС і GС genotypes are susceptible to this disease. In Ukraine, the studies of polymorphism MUC4 g.1849 G> C were held fragmentally and only at certain populations of Ukrainian Meat and Large White. The aim of the work was to determine the genetic structure of pig breeds of domestic and foreign selection for MUC4 gene and to establish the possibility of organizing marker associated selection for genetic improvement of resistance to colibacteriosis. For research the samples of blood and hair were used from the animals of Large White of English selection, Large White of Ukrainian selection Type 1 and Type 3, Red White-Belt, Mirgorod, Poltava Meat and Landrace breeds. DNA isolation from the samples of biomaterial were carried out using ion exchange resin Chelex-100. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP by Jorgensen methods (2006) with own modifications, concerning the selection of primer annealing temperature and optimum concentration of the gel to separate the restriction fragments. Genetic structure was determined using DNA analysis of MUC4 locus at seven breeds and intrabreed types. Predominance of potentially beneficial G allele frequency over undesirable C allele was established in all the populations of the studied pigs. The highest frequencies of G allele were characterized for Mirgorod (0.795), Poltava Meat (0.740) and Red White-Belt (0.820) breeds. Analysis of the distribution of genotypes showed domination of genotypes GG and GC in all analysed populations. Positive Wright fixation index and predominance of expected heterozygosity (0.484) over actual one (0.460) for Large White of Ukrainian selection Type 3 indicate the existence of moderate inbreeding and selective pressure in this herd. Other populations were characterized by a negative value of fixation index, which is indicative of an excess of heterozygotes, these breeds are in outbreeding depression. Statically significant deviation of actual frequencies of genotypes from expected ones was identified using Hardy-Weinberg criterion for pig population of Large White of English selection and Large White of Ukrainian selection Type 1. This may indicate that these populations aren’t in condition of equilibrium and about inclusion of the chosen gene to the selection process. The valuation was performed by calculating the PIC (polymorphic information content) of the marker. Based on the calculated PIC index MUC4 locus could be perspective to be used in marker associated selection with improving genetic resistance to colibacteriosis. The data of Mucin 4 gene polymorphism at Ukrainian pig populations of different origins and productive direction show the possibility of marker selection to improve the genetic resistance of animals to colibacteriosis regardless of their belonging to breed. This creates prerequisites for the establishment and implementation of the early molecular diagnosis of carriers of harmful C allele in MUC4 gene in pig breeding.

Leptin is an important regulator of energy metabolism and reproduction and is mainly synthesized in the adipocytes and then secreted into bloodstream. Leptin receptor is one of regulating components of organism energetic homeostasis. Receptor influences on leptin effects by regulating feed intake, body weight and fat deposition. Leptin receptor gene (LEPR) is located in the sixth chromosome in the region that correlates with content of intramuscular fat, thickness of back fat, growth rate and pig carcass parameters. Due to these correlations, LEPR is known to be gene candidate that controls quantitative traits. Leptin receptor gene consists of 20 exons; not less than 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in gene structure in different gene sites (exons, introns, 5’ and 3’ regions). SNPs of LEPR gene can be chosen as useful markers for predicting breeding value in pigs. For the experiment SNP c.232T>A was chosen; it is located in the second exon of LEPR gene. The aim of work was to study spreading of SNP c.232Т>А in LEPR gene of breeds under Ukrainian selection; to estimate if marker selection for proving meat quality is possible using chosen SNP as a marker. Materials and methods. For genetic population analysis, DNA samples of Large White breed (bred in Stepne farm, Poltava region, Ukraine) and Mirgorod breed (bred in Dekabristy farm, Poltava region, Ukraine) were used; 50 samples of each breed were taken for the research. Samples were genotyped using PCR-RFLP method. Deviations from genetic equilibrium found using the Hardy-Weinberg coefficient were signified with chi-square criterium, the frequency of alleles, estimation of gene frequencies, determination of heterozygosity were counted using GenAlex 6.0. Results. Genetic researches showed polymorphism c. 232Т>А in LEPR gene to be spread in population of Large White breed and Mirgorod breed under Ukrainian selection. Polymorphism with AA genotype was shown to be spread the most. In studied Large White population highly probable deviation of the actual distribution of genotypes of the expected value for the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (χ2 = 15.759, p ≤ 0.001) was found. The deviation was caused by increasing homozygotes (АА = 0.680). Small amount of heterozygotes (АТ = 0.160) and alternative homozygotes (ТТ = 0.160) was found. Positive designation of Rayt index (0.561) and the advantage of expected heterozygosis (0.365) on the actual (0.160) also show existence of selection pressure of LEPR in this herd. In Myrgorod pig population big amount of animals turned out to be homozygotes АА (0,720), small amount of heterozygotes was found (АТ=0.280), alternative homozygotes TT were not found. Deviation from spreading of genotypes of the expected value for the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was not significant and did not have a significant nature (χ2 = 1.325); SNP variety (c. 232Т>А) in LEPR gene is not spread, so this SNP in Mirgorod breed wasn’t under selection pressure. The fact of low selection pressure of (c. 232Т>А) in LEPR gene in Mіrgord breed can also be proved of negative designation of Rayt index (-0,163) and domination of heterozygotes (0.280). Allele A is found to be dominative above allele T in both studied populations. Conclusions. After DNA analysis of two breeds under Ukrainian selection (Mirgorod and Large White breeds) polymorphism c. 232Т>А in LEPR gene SNP was found to be spread; chosen SNP can be used for further researches in association analysis for finding correlation between SNP and meat traits.